Coin tester



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,559

w. c. CUTLER COIN TESTER Filed N'ovl 28. 1925 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFHCE.

WILLIAM C. CUTLER, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SELECTIVE AUTOMATIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, 0? L05 AN GELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

COIN TESTER.

Application filed November 28, 1925. Serial No. 72,049.

This invention relates to coin testers for vending machines and has for its principal object the provision of a device for detecting and eliminating bogus coins and slugs and coins of a denomination other than the denomination for which the device is set.

It will be understood in the consideration of this invention that vending machine operators experience heavy losses by reason of the fact that a metal slug, or a foreign coin, will operate the machines provided said slug or foreign coin is of the same diameter as the legitimate coin for which the machine is designed.

Any single means for testing only the weight of the coin or its diameter, is inadequate. Also devices for testingthe weight, diameter and thickness are inadequate be cause a slug is easily made at slight cost, which has the same weight and thickness, by usin lighter metal loaded with a heavier meta or by using heavier metals provided with a hole.

My invention is intended to provide for testing the physical characteristics of all inserted coins and slugs, as well as their diameter, thickness and their weight. It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a comparatively simple device which will test the principal physical characteristics of the metal, as well as the diameter, thickness and weight thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro ide simplified means for testing the diameter of a coin while it is in motion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for sounding an alarm when a slug or rejected coin is encountered, in order to embarrass those who even attempt to employ a slug or bogus ooin.

Still other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention is applicable to vending machines, telephone pay stations, ticket sellers, automatic toll gates, and like devices, and in as much as the device is complete in itself and not dependent upon any particular type of coin controlled machine, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, by the accompanying drawings, as it appears separate and apart from any coincontrolled machine.-

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is aview in elevation of the complete device as it appears, a. cover plate being removed to reveal the underlying parts.

Figure 2 is a view in section thereof seen on a line 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in section seen on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of certain parts as seen on a line 4.-4 Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention in the present embodiment, I employ a narrow casing which comprises two spaced side walls 10 and 11, the wall 1 being in the form of a removable cover to provide for assembly and access to the interior parts enclosed between said walls. The casing further includes an encompassing wall 12, between the spaced walls, which coacts with the spaced walls to enclose the interlor space except for the two outlet openings 13 and 14 respectively. The walls 10 and 11 are spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of the coin 15, so that the coin in passing between the walls is held upright, or edgewise. The casing provides an upstanding coin chute 16 having spaced guide walls 10 and 11 respectively. In one of the walls there is provided a round hole 17 so that the coin can be introduced to the chute sidewise only. Said hole is just large enough to admit a coin of the correct diameter, or less, and the chute is just wide enough to accommodate a coin of the correct thickness or less. Thus bogus coins or slugs of a greater diameter or thickness, cannot be introduced. It will be apparent hereinafter that even a coin of larger diameter than legitimate, or a thick coin or slug, would be eliminated in the majority of cases, because their weight and other characteristics would be out of proportion to their size, but the means just described for testingthe diameter and thickness does not appreciably increase the cost, and are therefore included as an extra precaution.

The chute leads to a strike 18, so arranged that a coin will fall on it from the chute. The chute turns abruptly at 19 so that the coin comes practically to rest at that point and is accelerated therefrom by gravity only. Thus all the coins hit the strike always at the same velocity regardless of size or weight, and regardless of any impetus that might be given them by the person inserting the coin.

The strike is a comparatively large mass of hard metal designed to cause the coin to re bound considerably. The striking surface of those who intentionally use slugs habit- 18 is inclined slightly in this embodiment. It is intended that coins which have 'the proper rebound from the strike, shall enter the passage 20, and accordingly an impediment 21 is placed between the strikeand said passageway so that the coin in order to reach passage 20, must traverse substantially that trajectory line indicated by the numeral 19. The impediment 21 divides the immediate part of the interior space of the casing into the passage 20 and the passage 22. The impediment provides a sharp dividing point 22. If a coin falls at any point between that dividing point and the strike it will gravitate to passage 22. The parts are so arranged and adjusted that the legitimate coin will rebound from the strike and jlust barely clear the point of the impediment and fall into passage 20. If it fails to reach said passage it will fall back into passage 22 and will gravitate to opening 14. Below the impediment there is provided a second strike 24 which projects into passage 20 a very slight distance only. Passage 20 should, in the embodiment shown, be only slightly wider than the diameter of the legitimate coin.-

Passage 20 broadens out abruptly as at 25 just opposite to the strike 24. When a coin or slug reaches passage 20, providing it is not too small in diameter, it will abut the slightly projecting strike 24 and will be deflected into space 25 and from there it will gravitate thru opening 13. The outer boundmg wall 12 at passage 20, is inclined forwardly from the vertical so that a coin or slug rolling down this passage will ride on surface 20*,only. Thus a small coin or slug,

as indicated at 27, will pass the strike, as indicated in broken lines, without striking it. Members such as 28 and 29 will further prevent the coin from reaching outlet 13 and will compel the coin to go to outlet 14.

.Member 28 is pointed and presents its pointed end toward an approaching coin or slug.

By means of the parts described, the coins and slugs are tested as to maximum thickness, maximum and minimum diameters, and maximum and minimum rebound characteristics. Up to this point coins and slugs of reduced thickness are not eliminated. Of course coins or slugs of reduced thickness are lighter than the legitimate coin and therefore I propose to detect such coins and slugs by testing their weight.

From outlet 14, a chute 31 leads to a returning chute 32, which may be arranged to return the rejected coin or slug to the owner. The returning chute is cut away as at 32 and a bell 33 projects slightly into the chute at this point so that a rejected coin or slug passing down said chute will strike the bell and sound an alarm that will prove embar rassing to those attempting to use slugs. Said bell will aid in the detection and arrest ually to rob vending machines.

From outlet 13, a chute 34 leads to a coin receiving mechanism, (not shown) forming a part of any coin controlled machine or the like. All coins which reach outlet 13 will gravitate down this chute fiatwise; the casing being curved at 25 to gradually turn a coin from edgewise position to flatwise position. A part 36 of the bottom wall 3430f said chute is movable and is hinged to the chute as at 37. This hinged part, or trap, as it is hereinafter known, is counterweighted by the member 38. The bottom wall of the chute, just below the trap presents a sharp abutment edge 39. A light coin passing over the trap will not depress it and therefor said coin will continue down to a deflector 40 which will throw the coin into a branch chute 41; said branch.

chute conveying the coin to the return chute and causing it to strike the bell as it' passes back to the owner.

A coin of the correct weight or greater, will depress the trap very slightly as it passes over it. This slight depression of the traps allows the edge of the coin to strike the edge 89. Thus the coin rebounds slightly and remains on the trap long enough for the trap to gradually be opened by the weight thereof. The result is that a coin of the correct weight, or a bogus coin or slug heavier than the legitimate coin will pass thru the trap and will gravitate into the continuation of the chute.

Usually the only metal slug which will reach this point without detection is composed partially or entirely of iron or steel,

and accordingly a magnet 42 is provided to deflect said slug from its course and cause it to fly out over the chute cover 43 instead of passing under it. A non-ferrous coin will continue on thru the chute undisturbed by the magnet. v

The operation and function of the individual parts are quite apparent, and the course of different coins and slugs has been partially described, but the following description will further aid to the full understanding of my invention. The parts are designed and adjusted for a certain coin, a silver-ten-cent piece or dime for example. Thick or oversized slugs or coins cannot be introduced. A metal or nonmetallic slug of esser diameter or thickness may be introduced. A slug made of fibre, lead, or composition will not rebound and will enter outlet 14 and be eliminated. Metal slugs or coins having the proper rebound characteristics will find their way 'to passage 20. Some slugs mighteven bound higher than the legitimate coin but such slugs will strike the upper boundary of the casing and will be deflected back into passage 22.

A coin which reaches outlet 13, is almost inor resilient nature. Slugs of a softer metal than silver may have rebound characteristics approximating that ofa dime by reason of the fact that such slugs are ring-like and therefore more inclined to bounce. Such slugs being the same in thickness and diameter, are usually lighter, unless they be ferrous in their make-up. The light slugs will be eliminated by the trap while the ferrous slugs will be eliminated by the magnet. In numerous cases, critical persons in testing this device, find that about 98% of all slugs introduced, of any kind whatsoever, will be rejected, in the case of a-device designed to receive only a dime. When, at rare intervals, a slug is found that will work the machine, it will be found that even that slug will be rejected several times following. A. worn or thin dime, such as should not bein circulation, will be rejected. A new dime with a small hole drilled in it will also be rejected. There is only one moving part' in the entire device and that is easily mounted on-bearings which will permit/of undisturbed movement.

It will be apparent now that I have provided an arrangement of parts which provides for detecting and eliminating slugs and illegitimate coins, and while I have shown 'and described a certain arrangement and construction of, and for, the parts, I do not limit myself thereto, and it is to be understood thatcertain parts of the device may be eliminated in certain instances, and in all instances certain parts might be eliminated and still give better results than any ordinary coin slot gives, and therefore I do not limit myself to any construction, or arrangement, or number, of parts. I may alter the construction and arrangement and detract from the number of parts and I may also eliminate certain parts or features as I desire, without enlarging the scope of my invention, within the appended claim, and my invention is to be considered as including any operative combination hereinafter claimed, that would be effective in eliminating even a small percentage of slugs and bogus coins.

I claim:

In a coin tester a casing providing an internal 'space of appreciable latitude, and a coin passage leading to said space, a bounding block within said casing disposed to be struck .by a coin passing thru said coin passage whereby each successive coin of sufficient res1l1ency 1s caused to rebound withm said space thru a path substantially common to.

WILLIAM o. CUTLER. 

